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KING, N.C. — At least 8 businesses within a few blocks of each other in downtown King have reported break-ins over the past week.

The break-in’s started on Friday night and included King Outreach Ministry, Baker Fuel, Studio 131, a heating and air conditioning business, Gatewood’s Detailing and Big Daddy’s Liberty Gas Station to name a few.

Nick Gatewood says he found his cash register busted open, his office ransacked, money and his shotgun missing.

“I’m worried it’s going to keep happening. They are not scared,” Gatewood said.

Early Wednesday Big Daddy’s Liberty Gas Station was broken into on the corner of Main Street and Dalton Road.

Ben Gatewood says while he doesn’t think anything was stolen out of his station, his computers were destroyed, making him unable to operate his gas pumps for the day.

“I am surprised they did it right in front of glass, just open air and right downtown King. You’d think somebody would see somebody in here. Now, I’m losing money, I don’t know what they stole, but they damaged a $12,000 piece of equipment so I can’t even do business, can’t pump any gas,” said Gatewood.

The King Police Department has stepped up patrols and added foot patrols downtown. Lt. Jordan Boyette says he thinks all break-ins are all related. He says there is some surveillance video police are looking through.

Nick Gatewood says he wishes police would do a little more, “the police department is not even a tenth of a mile away. At least put more on duty right now to deter anybody else from doing it,” Gatewood said.